enjoy this writing from Janet Kuypers in the cc&d free 2015 PDF file chapbook: Like a Lamb to the Slaughter (with brand new and never-before performed poems) read live 9/2/15 at her “Poetry At the Gallery Cabaret” feature show Click the title or the cover to download the free PDF file chapbook.

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/book “Salvaging America” cc&d, v273 (the July 2017 issue) Order this as a 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the issue book Nothing Lasts the cc&d May-August 2017 collection book		get the 4 page May-August 2017 cc&d magazine issue collection 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

Order this Janet Kuypers writing from her poetry book Every Event of the Year (Volume Two: July-December) Order this 286-page 7½" x 9¼" ISBN# book today of select poetry for holidays and events spanning the second half of the calendar year

Open Book
(jacket of stories)

Janet Kuypers
8/30/15

I’ve put on my jacket.
I’ve set about my work.

It’s the same thing,
day after day,

I do my work, and...
everything feels heavier.

I don’t know
what is wrong with me,

I’m not sick
but I know I’m not well

and I know there’s
gotta be something

I can do about this.
It’s become so desperate

that I inject medication in me
to try to make the pain go away.

And I continue to work,
and the weight grows stronger.

Now, I know my soul,
I keep things hidden

but I’m otherwise
an open book —

I’ve worn my heart
on my sleeve,

and even kept a tissue
when the weight was too strong.

My book fills libraries.
It’s a never-ending epic.

And I look through the pages,
I look deep inside of me.

I scan the pages.
I scour the text.

And for the life of me,
I can’t find what ails me.

And as I said,
I’m an open book —

so someone should be able
to break the code of me

and figure me out
once and for all.

And all I get
are blank stares.

No one else seems
to have the answers,

so

I continue my work,
until I realize

that my jacket —
that my book jacket —

that this open book
becomes the burden.

Not because
of what I write,

but because the answers
may be buried so deep

in the reams
of written word

that no one will be able
to unlock the key

to
figure out
what is truly me.

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...